Collapsible tube squeezing device



May 11, 1954 F. E. HOLT COLLAPSIBLE TUBE SQUEEZING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 27, 1948- M y 11, 1954 F. E. HOLT COLLAPSIBLE TUBE SQUEEZING-DEVICE Filed Aug. 27, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 game/whoa 62 160 Ff/047- ATTORNEYS Patented May 11, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a collapsible tube squeezing device for dispensing a paste or cream such as tooth paste, shaving and facial creams and. like materials.

One of the objects of the present invention in which a wide flexible band or belt preferably of rubber, is provided to increase the longitudinal squeezing surface from a line of contact to a curved surface of contact. Thus another object of the invention resides in the provision of two spaced rollers provided with the flexible band and a third roller normally bearing against and contacting one of the runs of the belt between which run and belt the collapsing and collapsed tube passes to thereby provide an area squeezing contact instead of an approximate line contact.

Another object of the invention resides in the arrangement of the squeezing elements to eliminate swaying of the tube and lateral tracking for the tube by providing a belt or band guide and conveyor for the collapsing tube.

A. still further object of the invention resides in the structure of the tube squeezing device in which the frame is made in one or two parts for easy assembly of the squeezing rolls and associated parts and when made in one part it may be joined at the bottom.

Further objects will be apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the tube squeezing device with tube inserted, and showing certain parts broken away and in section.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a cross-section taken on line 3-3 in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the detail of a cover,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the upper part of the device showing various details, and

Figure 6 is a cross section taken on line 6-5 of Fi 1.

The baseor frame I 4 may be made integral by joining the parts I, 2, and 3 at the sides. A perforation i5 is provided which forms a means for suspending or mounting the device on a vertical surface. Each part i, 2, and 3 appears in cross section as best shown. in Figure 3 which shows a main side section iii and a transverse or back section I! with a meeting edge 3|. Each side section it is provided with an inner surface or channel is defined by the section it and a projecting lip or ridge !2.

A closure plate or disc i2 is slidably arranged in the channels or grooves 18 and this plate is provided with side arms 2!] each bent at approximately right angles relative to the plate to contact its channel [8 to thereby frictionally maintain the plate in any position as for instance against the opening or port 2! of the tube 22, Figure 2, to act as a closure.

The upper part of frame M is provided with numerous holes acting as bearings for a plurality of rollers t, i I, and 6. Roller 4 is a driving roller and roller 5 is a driven roller, the driving thereof being aifected by a flexible belt or band ill preferably made of rubber and preferably integral and extending in width the entire length of the rollers 4 and 6. The roller H acts as a contact or base roller on which the collapsible tube 22 rolls in contact with and as driven or squeezed by the band iii as best seen in Figure 2. The roller ii is preferably provided with a gear 5 which meshes with a similar gear ii secured to the roller 4. A driving shaft 9 is rotatably mounted in the upper part of the frame M and is provided with a gear 1 and with a manual actuating wheel or knob 2d of which two are preferably provided one on each end of the shaft 8, as best seen in Figure 1.

It will be seen in Figure 5 that the frame i4 is provided along each upper part or side section It with a stopped or recessed portion 25 extending U-shaped around the top of each side section. Also each leg of the U is provided with projecting lugs or tongues 26 which cooperate with notches or detents 2'. provided in a cover member 53. This cover i3 also made of metal or plastic or any other suitable substance is U-shaped and is provided with an internal peripheral rim 28 in which the detents 2! are provided as best seen in Figure 4. The cover it has a plurality of functions as for instance to act as a cover for the moving parts of the squeezing mechanism and to maintain the rollers in their bearings. Also the cover it acts to maintain the upper parts i, 2, and 3 of the frame together and as a means by which a holding clip 29, Figure 2, may grip the device for support on a vertical surface.

Fig. 5 shows the sections I6 separated somewhat to illustrate how the rollers, band and drive shaft may be inserted in their respective holes in the sections driving the assembly of the device.

As clearly shown in Figure 6 the frame l4 may be composed of two sections of parts pivotally held together by means of the screw 33.

The operation of the device is as follows.

To insert a full collapsible tube it is merely necessary to slide the closure l2 down to the dotted line position 39, Figures 1 and 2, and then insert the flat end 34 of the collapsible tube 22 between the roller H and the flexible band It. Then upon rotation of the actuating wheels 29 the shaft e rotates the gear 1 which in turn rotates the gears 8 and 5 as a gear train and as a result thereof the roller 4 will be driven clockwise, Figure 2, and the roller H counterclockwise. Thus the tube 22 will be squeezed between the roller 1! and belt It! to dispense the material from the tube through the port 2|. After the dispensing operation the closure 52 is moved upwardly in its channels 18 to close the port. 7

The spent or collapsed tube passes downbehind the back sections I1" so that it will be out of sight, assuming that the device is mounted v on a vertical surface as shown in Figure 2. When the tube is completely emptied and almost com'pletay behind'the back sections 1 l, the hand wheels 2 may be moved in reverse rotation to roll the empty tube out of the device preparatory to the. insertion of a new tube,

The device is easily installed by simply securing the bracket 29 on the surface where the device is to be mounted, by means of a screw 32, then slide the device down until the cover i3 7 hooks over and behind the bracket 29 and then insert the screw 33 through the perforation 15.

From the foregoing it will be evident that in view of the area contact of the roller H and band 19 the tendency to slip and sway is entirely eliminated. The rubber band 19 acts as V a guide and conveyor and thus by having a large area of contact, both longitudinally as well as laterally, instead of only a lateral line contact, the tube will be forced in a straight direction and without any slippage and side sway.

I claim as my invention:

1. A. squeezing device for collapsible tubes and the like comprising an elongated base frame, means at one end for collapsing the tube, and a' closure plate slidably mounted in the frame to act as .a direct closure for the tube, said means including a roller around which the tube collapses and a band to press the collapsing tube on the roller, and a pair of spaced rollers rotatably mounted in the frame to support and actuate the band.

2. A squeezing device for collapsible tubes and the like comprising an elongated base frame, means at one end for collapsing the tube, and a closure plate slidably mounted in the frame to act as a direct closure for the tube, said means including'a roller around which the tube collapses and a band to press the collapsing tube on the roller, and said band and roller presenting a wide area both longitudinally and laterally to the tube to prevent slippage and lateral sway, and a pair of spaced rollers rotatably mounted in the frame to support and actuate the band.

3. A squeezing device for collapsible tubes and the like comprising an elongated base frame, means at one end 'for collapsing the tube, and a closure plate slidably mounted in the frame to act as a direct closure for the tube, said means including a pair of spaced rollers, a flexible band driven by said rollers and a base roller around which the tube is flattened by the band.

, 4. A squeezing device for collapsible tubes and the like comprising a base frame having a rear section and side sections and means at one end of the frame to squeeze and collapse the tube, the collapsed tube passing from the squeezing means and behind the rear section out of view, and a closure plate frictionally slidable in and between the side sections.

5. A squeezing device for collapsible tubes and the like comprising a base frame having a rear section and side sections and means at one end of the frame to squeeze and collapse the tube, the collapsed tube passing from the squeezing means and behind'the rear section out of view, said squeezing means including a roller and a belt between which the tube is collapsed with a wide ccntact area to prevent slippage and la eral sway of the tube.

6. A squeezing device for collapsible tubes and the like comprising an elongated base frame joined atone end to form a U-naped member with two parts at the other end of the frame, a plurality of spaced rollers rotatably mounted at the other end of. the frame and a band cooperating with the rollers to squeeze the tube, and a cover for the said two parts of the frame to conceal the rollers and band and to hold the two parts or the frame together.

7. A squeezing device according to claim 6, in which a closure plate is provided slidable by frictional engagement in the two parts of the frame to 'act as a closure for the tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,156,106 Smart s Oct. 12, 1915 1,209,219 NIOXOH Oct. 3, 1916 1,432,644 -Uber Oct. 17, 1922 1,763,273 Strauss et al June 19, 19.30 1,777,996 Winsor Oct. 7, 1930 1,787,929 Clark Jan. 7, 1931 1,845,598 Harris Feb. 16, 1932 1,859,174 -Sassano May 7, 1932 1,869,685 Gusdorf Aug. 2, 1932 1,891,292 Van Buren Dec. 20, 1932 1,927,278 Clark Sept. 19, 1933 1,930,821 Newcomer et al. Oct. 17, 1933 1,989,713 Smith et al Feb. 5, 1935 2,051,146 Martin et al.'l Aug. 18, 1936 

